The images in this section come from a single handscroll,
The Spring Festival Along the River, by Zhang Zeduan. This
painting is
considered one of the most valuable in Chinese art history for
its high level of technical quality and the liveliness with which it
portrays the myriad details of urban life. It is generally interpreted as portraying the city environs
of Kaifeng, the Northern Song capital, and some of the surrounding
countryside.

To see this handscroll as it would be traditionally
viewed, start with the first section at the top and use the scroll bar to move from right to
left; progress through the following segments in the same way. Handscrolls are typically viewed one section at a time,
normally in portions equivalent to a shoulders' width apart. Links
to some of the details follow the final section.

Who do you think would have commissioned this painting? Do you
think this painter was a specialist, and if so, in what type of subject is
he most skilled?